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Travel tips, how to explore the best of London on a budget

Loknath Das

The sun-kissed scenes from Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s storybook wedding at Windsor may have put you in the mood to visit the Old Country. But what if you’re just looking to feel like a prince (or princess), not spend like one? Here are a few tips on enjoying London on a budget. (Just don’t count on the sunshine that blessed the royal wedding in a place where on average it rains about one out of every three days.) GO LOW (SEASON) London’s high season is late spring and summer…

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Would you consider skipping the Colosseum and Vatican on a trip to Rome?

Loknath Das

You can hardly see the treasures of Rome’s top attractions these days amid the sweaty hordes and seas of selfie-sticks. Overtourism is real, there and elsewhere in Europe. Yet look away and there is hope. Give up your ambition to name-drop the top 10 attractions, and you can unlock the experiences of a lifetime at sites with equally astounding masterpieces that just don’t happen to be in every guidebook and listicle. The central part of the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla. (Shutterstock) At the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme museum, you…

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Apple Cracks Down on Apps Sharing Information on Users’ Contacts

Loknath Das

Apple changed its App Store rules last week to limit how developers obtain, use and share information about iPhone owners’ friends and other contacts. The move cracks down on a years-long practice. Developers ask users for access to their phone contacts, then use the information for marketing and sometimes share or sell it without permission from others listed in those digital address books. On both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android, the world’s largest smartphone operating systems, the tactic is sometimes used to increase growth and make money. Sharing friends’ data without their consent is what…

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37 Witty Instagram Captions For Travel, Because Your Vacation Mode Is On

Loknath Das

Travel is known as one of life’s greatest treasures. Once you hit the open road or get your passport stamped, you’ll never want to look back. Travel has the ability to transform your perspective. It shows you parts of the world you once dreamed of visiting, and introduces you to amazing people who will rock your world. Simply put, travel expands your little corner of the world into something much bigger. Many of us give into our wanderlust at one point or another, whether we’re visiting a tropical paradise or…

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This ‘death cafe’ in Bangkok lets you lie in a coffin to get discounts on drinks

Loknath Das

Dying for a cup of coffee? You will feel at home at Bangkok’s new “death awareness” cafe, a macabre, Buddhist spin on the themed-cafe craze where customers are urged to confront their own mortality — and live better lives as a result. With drinks called “death” and “painful” on the menu, and a skeleton splayed out on a couch in the corner, the meet-your-maker theme is alive and well at this open-air lunch spot in the Thai capital. But the centrepiece of the Kid Mai (Think New) Death Cafe experience…

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Head to these bustling and vibrant night markets on your next Asian vacay

Loknath Das

From vibrant cultures and traditions to mouth-watering food to tales of ultimate travel experiences, Asia has a lot to offer tourists. Another thing that it’s famous for is the treasure trove of goods that you can find in the plethora of markets spread across the continent. Night markets have long been a prominent part of Asian society that bring the travellers close to the local culture as the vibrancy and dynamism they offer is absolutely jaw-dropping. The lively hustle and bustle of the crowd, the chants of the sellers, the…

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Israel on your mind? This is the only food guide you’ll ever need to plan your travel

Loknath Das

It’s Thursday night and Tel Aviv is hopping. Diners are lining up outside of Port Said restaurant; the sidewalk is filled with drinkers. It’s a similar story nearby at Santa Katarina. If you haven’t booked a table, good luck. Across town at the Salon, it’s even more lively. The dining room is jammed and the terrace is packed with people smoking, chatting on their phones or waiting for a table. Many are doing all three. Despite the specter of confrontation as Iran entrenches itself near Israel’s border with Syria, Israelis…

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US shouldn’t shut the door on Chinese students

Loknath Das

US President Donald Trump’s national security strategy calls for the government to consider restrictions on “foreign STEM students from designated countries to ensure that intellectual property is not transferred to our competitors”. Photo: Reuters As part of its continuing campaign to prevent China from stealing American intellectual property, President Donald Trump’s administration is considering restrictions on the number of Chinese citizens enrolled at US colleges and universities. Targeting foreign students will undermine US competitiveness, not enhance it. Of the 1 million foreign nationals enrolled at US schools, nearly one-third are…

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From mums to millennials, 10 female writers on why travel is best done alone

Loknath Das

Travel has taught me that most people are kind and trustworthy’ CREDIT: GETTY Ten female writers reflect on how their many and varied journeys around the planet have enriched them. ‘Becoming a mother of three hasn’t changed my rhythm’ Michelle Jana Chan My first ever memory is standing on the forecourt of Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s legendary old airport where the approach was between towering apartment blocks and passengers could watch locals hanging their laundry as the plane turned on to finals. I was probably three years old. I remember looking up…

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What is AAA Travel and Can It Save You Money On Travel?

Loknath Das

Before you could research and book your travel in an instant on the Internet, you needed AAA Travel. The information superhighway has made DIY travel planning extremely easy, but travel agencies including AAA Travel still exist. If you’ve grown up in the Internet age, you’re probably wondering what is AAA Travel? If you or you’re family booked a flight or planned on driving across the country as a child, it’s possible you used an AAA service. Whether you needed roadside assistance, a TripTik, or a travel agent to book your trip, it…

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